Electric railway.



No. 645,0!5. v Patented Mar. 6, I900. w. B. a. L. 0. ma n. ELECTRICRAILW AY. (Application filed Oct. 16, 1899.)

(Na Modal.)

,6 wa fi e n A. ,M; ,6 film a 7 A m a z jw C l 6 5 6 K w@ through thewire with the rails 11.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN E. REED AND LYMAN c. REED, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUIS ANA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,015, dated March 6,1906.

Application filed October 16, 1899. Serial No. 733,781. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WARREN B. REED and LYMAN O. REED, citizens of theUnited States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans andState of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements inElectric- Railway Systems, of which the following is a specification.

0 ur invention relates to systems of electrical distribution for tramwaypurposes, the object of the same being to obtain a grounded metallicreturn-conductor of low resistance and a consequent closer regulationand economy in operation and maintenance of the system, a protection tolife and property, an elimination of the present interference with othercircuits, and a practical elimination of electrolytic action on adjacentgas and water pipes and metallic cables.

In carrying out our invention we employ a system of feeders, eitheroverhead or underground-,consistin g of metallic-sheathed cables, thesheathings of which are utilized for the return feeders of the system,are highly insulated from the interior conductor, are grounded ateveryavailable point, and are connected to the rails wherever practicable.

Certain details also form part of the invention, which will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view illustrative of our improved system. Fig. 2 is anelevation of one of the grounded metallic supporting-poles with thefeeder-cables and rails bonded thereto in cross-section. Fig. 3 is across-section of one of the-rails, showing a feeder-cable connectedthereto and supported thereby.

Like reference-numerals indicatelike parts in the difier'ent views. 7

The generator 1 has one brush thereof grounded, as shown at 2, and theother brush connected with the interior conductors 3 and 4 of thefeeder-cables 5 and 6. Said interior conductors are highlyinsulated fromthe me-- tallic sheathings of the cables 5 and 6 and are connected tothe trolley-wire sections 7 8. The metallic sheathings of said cablesare also bonded together, as shown at 9,and connected The said rails andthe said slieathings are also grounded through the wire 12, which isconne'cted to the grounded brush of the genera tor 1, as clearly shown.The sheathings of each of the cables 5 and 6 are also connectedatintervals with the rails 11 through the wires 13 and 14, which wiresare grounded, as at 15 and 16. By this construction it will be seen thatthe metallic sheathings of the feeder-cables 5 and 6 and the rails 11are bonded together at every available point and grounded both at thegenerator and at points throughout the distribution. The ends of therailsections may also be bonded together, if desired.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings we have shown a form of construction adaptedto the overhead system, in which 17 represents a metallic pole wellseated in the ground, having a cross-arm 1 8 thereon, upon which aresupported trolley wires 19 19, fed through the wires 20 from theinterior conductors of the metallic-sheathed cables, constituting thefeeders 5, 6, 5, and 6. The metallic sheathings of these feedercablesare bonded together and metallically connected to the poles 17, therebydoing away with the necessity of insulators and the like. The rails 11are bonded to each other and to the poles 17 through the wires 21 21, asshown, the said wires and poles also serving to effectually ground saidrails.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of construction wherein thefeeder-cables are supported upon the rails themselves, with theirsheathings electrically connected thereto and grounded. 11 representsoneof the rails, and 5 one of the feeder-cables, 3 being the interiorconductor thereof and 22 being the outer metallic sheathing, separatedfrom the interior conductor byinsulation 23. Embracing the cable 5 is atubular clip or clamp 24:, of conducting material, soldered or otherwiseelectrically connected to the metallic sheathing 22 of said cable, thesame having a tubula r laterally-extending stem25 thereon,which fitswithin an opening in the web of the rail 11 and is secured inplace bymeans of a wedge-pin 263.

seen that the metallic sheathing of the feedercable is electricallyconnected to the rail, which rail is grounded at every available point,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the overhead systems of distribution of By this construction it willbe IOO electric-railway current now in common use the trolley-wires arefed in sections by feeders leading from a central station or plant.These feeders are of the same potential, usually positive, and thenegative side of the generator or other source of electrical energy isgrounded. There are also other grounds placed at various points on thesystem. In order to furnish as good a return as possible, the rails arebonded together and connected to these grounds, the object being toutilize the earth as far as possible for a return-conductor in multiplewith the bonded rails. This grounding of the system, however, is usuallyimperfect, and as the grounds are placed at some distance apart thecurrent leaving the rails to parallel paths, such as watermains orgas-mains, often does so through a resistance which causes the settingup of electrolytic action. If the rails were perfectly grounded at allpoints, there could be no electrolytic action, as there would be nodifference in potential between the rails and the other parallelgrounded paths. Besides, the bonding of the rails together is alwaysmore or less imperfect, and where the traffic, and consequently thecurrent flow, is large the loss upon the bonded rails is often of such aratio as to necessitate the carrying back of return metallic feeders tothe source of supply. These return-feeders are connected to the rails atvarious points and are placed upon insulators to insure their separationboth electrically and mechanically from the positive feeders.

Where the system is underground, the feeders are usually incased inlead-sheathed cables, are run in conduits, and are connected to theunderground trolley or its equivalent in one way or another, accordingto the system employed. The lead casings of these underground feedersare often subjected to electrolytic action from the fact'that they arenot perfectly grounded or perfectly connected to the rails, and currentleaking from the rails to them or from them causes in many instancesdeleterious electrolytic action. As above intimated, in the presentsystem there is always more or less electrolytic action, and the gas orwater pipes which are adjacent to the rails of the system always suffermore or less from this cause. The only way to prevent this electrolyticaction is to employ a double trolley and dispense with the groundedreturn. The electrolytic action may be made less serious, however, byincreasing the effectiveness of the bonds between the rails and byconnecting the system of rails to gas and Water mains wherever thereexists a diffe,r ence of potential between them.

In our system we run the feeders, whether overhead or underground, inmetallicsheathed cables and employ the sheathings of these cables for acontinuous metallic return-conductor. In overhead construction thesecables are simply clamped to metallic poles, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings,

without the intervention of any insulation,- thereby doing away with allinsulators of glass or porcelain and effecting by this direct clampingof the sheathing to the pole a convenient and effectual ground at everyfew feet of the system. e also effectually bond the rails to each ofthese grounded poles. In this way the metallic cable-sheathings orreturn-conductors and the rails are placed in parallel at everyavailable point. By. our invention, therefore, the current, instead ofhaving to be carried by the rails and the defective bonds tothe sourceof supply, being relieved only by what leaks to the earth and gas andwater mains or flows to the earth at various grounds placed upon thesystem, is furnished a return of low resistance over the continuousmetallic sheathing of the feeder-cables. Besides, the sheathing, whichacts as a return-conductor, is placed in multiple with the track atevery pole and is grounded at every pole, placing the earth in multiplewith it at numerous points instead of only occasionally, as according tothe present system. From the fact that the track does not have to carrythe accumulated current from many cars along its length on account ofthe low-resist ance metallic return being placed in multiple with it thepresent bonding of the rails may be done away with, if desired, and thebonds between the rails and the grounded poles substituted therefor.Furthermore, as the metallic sheathing of the feeder-cables is groundedat every few feet of the system, an absolute protection to these feedersfrom an yhightension currents which might come in contact with them isobtained, and these feeders are prevented from doinginjury to any othersystem.

In the present system, particularly where metallic poles are used and inwet weather, there is a continual leakage across the insulators toground, which is not only a loss to the system, but is a source ofdanger and has, in fact, caused many accidents. In our sys--- tem, wherethe metallic sheathing entirely surrounds the insulated conductor, it isimpossible for any leakage to take place other than across theinsulation between the interior conductor and the grounded exteriorcon-= ductor. As the exterior conductor is grounded at many points, itcan be of no other potential under any circumstances than the earth, andtherefore any leakage from the interior conductor can only cause abreakdown in the insulation, resulting in a burn-out or opening of acircuit-breaker controlling the feeder. By our system, therefore, weovercome the danger to life as far as the feed-wires are concerned andalso overcome all danger from crosses with other circuits.

In the underground system the metallic sheathed cables may be connectedto the rails at as many points as desired. If the feeders are run inconduits, the casings may be further grounded at each manhole. may,however, be placed in direct contact The cables ivith the rails, asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and clamped thereto, affording in thismanner a continuous metallic return in direct contact with and bonded tothe rails practically along their entire length. One or as manyconnections as desired are made to each rail, and the present method ofbonding the rails is avoided. Where metallic cross-ties are employed andthe rails rest directly upon them, the metallic sheathings of the cablesmay be directly clamped to these cross-ties and further grounded atevery available point. The underground feeders supply the trolley or itsequivalent in any desired manner, according to the system employed.

It is evident from the foregoing that the use of the outer metallicsheathings of the feedercables for a return-cond uctor which is groundedat every available point cannot interfere with any other system which issimilarly installed. It is, on the other hand, of advantage tothoroughly bond together the metallic sheathin gs of the cables of allthe systems, thereby making one large conductor common to all systems,Well grounded, so that it is of the same potential as the earth at allpoints. Each one of the cable-sheathings surrounds its interiorinsulated conductor, Which interior conductor is prevented from comingin contact with the current carried by all the other interior conductorsno matter What their potentials may be. In this Way the advantage isobtained of being able to place all the wires of various systems on onemetallic pole without insulation and Without the necessity of mechanicalor electrical separationor insulation between the cables of the varioussystems. The bonding of the cable-sheathings of all the systems togetherfurnishes a common metallic conductor so Well grounded that it is ofpractically no resistance. The return or grounded side of any system soconstructed With said feeders, and metallic rails, the

sheathin gs of said cables being groundedand connected with said rails,

3. In an electric-railway system, feeders in metallic-sheathed cables, agenerator for supplying current to said feeders having one sidegrounded, trolley Wire sections connected With said feeders, andmetallic rails, the sheathings of said cables being bonded and groundedand connected to the grounded side of said generator and to said rails.

at. In an overhead electric-railway system, grounded metallic poles,feeders in metallicsheathed cables supported thereby and having theirsheathin gs bonded to said poles, trolley-wire sections supplied fromsaid feeders, and rails bonded together and to said poles, as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WAR'REN B. REED. LYMAN G. REED.

WVitnesses:

JOHN D. MAENT, J r., WM. R. MAsoN.

